pastorius is back in court, listening to what witnesses had to say the night his girlfriend was shot dead. rebel fighters battle against the assad regime. >> if they take this not only will it be a strategic deterrent but also symbolically. >> silvio berlusconi tries to stage a comeback, but will the scandals of his past keep italian voters from returning him to power? welcome to our viewers on public television in america and around the globe. today oscar pistorius was back in a south african court facing

charges he killed his girlfriend. two witnesses claimed they heard nonstops out in. the defense quickly called the account into question. -- they heard nonstop fighting. >> back in court to fight for bail, oscar pistorius arriving for a day of evidence and heated argument. the apparel and they athlete is still struggling to control his -- the athlete is still struggling to control his emotions. on the screen, the first detailed plan we have seen of the crime scene itself. the detective revealed he had two witnesses who reported hearing a long, loud argument in the house before the shooting, and no one witness was hundreds of meters away and could not

identify -- and one witness was hundreds of meters away and could not identify the voices. police say they found testosterone drugs and needles. the defense says it was an herbal remedy. they are still carrying out tests. post-mortem showed he had an empty bladder. there were no signs of assault or wounds on her. pistorius fired four shots through the door. she says the angle of the violence and just as not approved he had his artificial legs on -- but does not prove he had his artificial legs on. evidence of offshore account being removed from a safe, implying he might leave the

country. the lawyers are picking the case apart. five. . in the end, the detective leading in the investigation was forced to concede he had no evidence that contradicted his version of events. relatives seemed relieved. >> i can tell you of his character, he is able to work through this, and the world will see a different oscar. that is for sure. but in court the magistrates seem to ridiculed the idea that a man as famous as him might try to jump bail and lose an opportunity to clear his name. >> i could see no reason why he should not give details.

it does not like he is unfamiliar or would take a first flight out of the country. >> the decision on whether to release him on bail could be taken tomorrow. >> now to syria, where two years after the uprising began, bloodshed continues. today an air raid on a suburb in damascus reportedly killed at least 20 people. the mortars exploded, killing one of the players. the city of aleppo has seen some of the most intense fighting. conway filed this report. >> the night sky troubles with the sound of war, -- trembles with the sound of war. thousands have lost their lives.

as the fighting spreads, many parts of syria and now look like this. rebel fighters have made any gains in the north. towns, military bases, air fields. they have the misfortune of lying beside their necks and biggest target so far. aleppo region and now they're next biggest target so far, aleppo airport. -- they have the misfortune of being beside the next biggest target so far, aleppo airport. >> this is now a key strategic target for the rebels. if they take this, not only will it have been a strategic success also an important symbolic victory. >> controlling the airport means wiping out the army. it could deal a blow to their morale and would be a major

boost to us as well as giving a great military who assets. >> civilians pay the highest price for this ambition. a battle for their future that makes refugees of their own people. we sped south. an army has been trying to advance to protect the airport. the rebels have moved in to stop it. the ground there is witness to the brutality of the fight. new -- bares witness to the brutality of the fight. the flag lets everyone know who is leading the resistance. we saw four and fighters from libya, iraq, and saudi arabia.

they seem to dominate the front lines. they have a reputation for being tough, disciplined, and braves. some fear they want to hardline islamic states, far removed from what began as a call for freedom and democracy. without help from elsewhere, many are glad of their support. there is another reason to worry about what is happening here. only a few kilometers away is the vast military complex, believed by some to use your part of this suspect in and chemical weapon stocks. this town has been pounded relentlessly in a fight that resonates far beyond syria across borders. across syria they seem to have

borne much of the brunt of the shelling. there was nearly 100,000 people living here when the attack began. >> hundreds were killed. thousands were injured. no hospitals to treat them. nobody save them. nobody was interested in their suffering. the syrian army is above the hill. they can come to the city at any time. they kill women, children, commit massacres, and nobody in the world is interested. >> it is two years since this began. hope this will or can and soon has highs. syrians feel alone and abandon by much of the world. >> for more on the events

unfolding in serious, i spoke a brief time ago to the ambassador -- in syria, i spoke of a brief time ago to the former ambassador. ambassador, syrians feel alone, so they feel abandoned. isn't that feeling of abandonment justified when we think the vague powers and russia to help libya? -- the big powers and russia to help libya? >> i am not sure how justified it is -- the big powers rushed help libya? >> i am not sure how justified it is, but it is understandable people feel alone. people feel oppressed by a regime that will quite literally stop at nothing. >> the u.s. defense secretary wanted to arm the syrian rebels, but the white house did not want to. do you think there is a chance

the white house might change its mind? >> i think it is inevitable with the change of team, particularly yith secretary of state carrkerr coming in, but there has to be a complete revamping of strategy. that may be a decision they come with. >> you think it would tips the balance at this point? >> what i would support as the united states making a move to form a relationship with carefully vetted rebel groups. i think the united states has come to the conclusion armed people on the ground are going to be dictating a series of's future -- dictating syria's future. it could include training, tactical intelligence, non-

legal the equipment. i think it is essential if the ignited states do -- if the united states wants to exert influence. >> do you think they are in danger of not exerting influence? >> i think the president of the united states has certain reservations about getting involved in terms of farming, but the downside is quite risky also. -- in terms of arming, but the downside is quite risky also. the downside of letting syria take its course could be very dangerous. >> it may seem the u.s. is concerned about them. >> foreign fighters are still a very tiny percentage of people bearing arms against the assad regime common on but the profile is growing considerably, and this is something that works to the advantage of the regime,

which really wants to portray to others in cirio, particularly minorities, that -- in syria that they are extremists. this is their line. >> thank you for joining us. in the past few weeks, cyber hacking has been all over the headlines, and today the obama administration about how to combat foreign theft of trade secrets. eric holder announced a plan in washington, and it comes on the heels of a report by an american securities firm pointing the finger at china. i am joined by tom, who was a member of the commission on cyber security. the administration tiptoed over whether china was responsible for these cyber attacks. >> i think they are signaling to

the rest of the world but we are more willing to not only publicly embarrass those regimes but the use hard and soft power. >> what did you say could be done to protect u.s. computer systems? >> we recommend a number of things, first to modernize authority for criminal penalties as well as to regulate statutes, to improve the way they protect data. many have taken a lackadaisical approach to securing them, over relying on things to protect themselves. >> are those vulnerable? >> every system is vulnerable. they said there are those of us who know they have been hit and those who do not know. there are only two types, and we need to understand there is a multiplicity of factors. it is a free fire zone, and nations to not control the

lawlessness. >> what is the worst-case scenario? what are we talking about, the stock exchange going down? >> it is about manipulating the integrity of data to make the data in comprehensible or unreliable to critical infrastructure, whether that be the financial sector. i do not want to give any ideas, but the reality is hackers want to colonize infrastructure. they want to stay there and remain on nisan, and they want to change our mind about the decisions at -- who omniscient, and they want to change their minds. we need to try to civilize cyberspace, and the only way to create international norms is to get to a point where it is nation states having a conversation on these issues. this is more than a trade issue, but it is a national security issue. i would add that organized crime

has added cyber crimes lately. these people are not going to church. they are embracing technology to monetize their existence in cyberspace. >> how high are the stakes democrats incredible. what individual does not spare a thought -- how high are the stakes? >> incredible. what individual does not fear of a computer screen every day? >> what are the rest of the supposed to do? >> do not rely on the perimeter defenses of yesterday like firewalls and encryption, and we need to step it up on our own lifestyles. we need to be aware like you do not walk down a dark alley and the sea at night. when you're computer says you have of it -- a dark alley in the sea at night. when your computer says you have warnings, do not -- a dark

alley ain dc at night. when did your computer has warnings, do not ignore them. >> the russian opposition has been targeting the hidden wealth of the country's political elite. the resignation of a senior member of president's party. the accusation is that vladimir owns $2 million worth of undeclared property in the united states. daniel reports from moscow. >> he was the chair of the ethics committee, but today in a dramatic session, he had to resign amid allegations he had $2 million worth of property in florida, which he had not declared in the parliamentary register. why didn't you declare it? >> i have not got any

properties. >> the ones people are talking about. >> what people? >> the properties are beachfront properties in miami and a villa on a vast plot of land. a paper trail was under its by opposition activists. under the rules, the deputies have to declare all their income, property, and cars. for the first time in years russians are feeling the heat on their property. as the opposition tries to prove their allegations that united russia is a party of crooks and thieves. >> president hu dain will be hoping this with resignation at the center -- president hu will be hoping this registration stops. lossmir's departure is a for russia's president.

he was one of putin's longest serving allies in the duma. ♪ >> in athens tens of thousands of people took to the streets as part of the latest 24-hour strike. it comes after months of protests aimed at austerity measures. the problem of the eurozone is hardly contained in greece. italians will go to the polls in an early election. the outcome could have a profound impact on the economic future. >> europe thought it had finished with them. silvio berlusconi is mobbed by his supporters.

a 76-year-old who cannot resist the pull of power. he is not the favorite, neither can he be written off. in recent weeks, he has narrowed the gap. silvio berlusconi is full of confidence. at times his campaign rallies take on the appearance of a football terrorists. he is selling optimism at the time italy is in deep recession. he promises not just to lower taxes, but to give cash back from a property tax. it is unjust, he says, because it touches something sacred. the house as a foundation on which every family builds their future. this is causing plenty of

international anxiety. his main opponent, the center left candidate is talking about the scandals. he says berlusconi was preoccupied, a reference to the dancer he's accused of having underage sex with. >> he made us a good joke of the world. it is time for something to change. we threw him out because he is ruining italy. what sense does it make to reelect him? >> the closest aides argued his policies struck concerns about his personal life. >> is a basic message is simple. -- his basic message is simple.

>> these are tense political days in italy. a protester who interrupts the rally, saying enough, but a failing economy makes predictions difficult. the former cruise ship crooner may not win, but he may end up with influence preventing a stable government and causing new concerns in europe. >> from italy to oscar. this sunday everyone in hollywood will be on hand to see who will go home with an academy award. no one blockbuster is a film called fresh guacamole which has made history for being so short. tom explains all. >> he is probably walking the streets of los angeles. he has made academy award history by creating a short as

film and never nominated for oscar. his film documents in one minute 30 seconds the making of opel of guacamole. >> it is looking at richard the making of guacamole. >> it is looking at cooking in a different way. the idea is to separate everyday things that have no food connotations for the appetizing ingredients in a traditional and who recipe. your parents always said, do not play with your food. i like to play with my food. >> he collaborated on the phone. it took four months to put it together. >> i think it is clever the way they are turning to food and how they turn out to be something when they are not and something that should be in a recipe.

>> he has a background making commercials. he believes in the power of the brief narrative. >> it magnifies your focus on this highly condensed storytelling format where an idea is keen, where i could show you something you had nine thought about before are perhaps could not imagine. i think of my films that way. >> he will be here to walk down the red carpet now. most of the people in the viewing stands and the press will not have a clue who he is, but that does not matter because he has already made oscar history. >> i am proud the academy has recognized the shortest some ever nominated. these are art films. i approached them white ourselves. -- approach them like art

films. >> some people to respect his animation. yes, he likes guacamole. these are good times for the director. he has just had a second child, and he isn't running for a top hollywood accolade. >> will the guacamole get the oscar statuette? that brings the broadcast to a close, but you can continue watching bbc world news on our web site. thanks for watching. please tune in tomorrow. >> funding of this presentation is made possible by the freeman foundation of new york, stowe, vermont, and honolulu. newman's own foundation. fidelity investments.

union bank. and united healthcare. >> your personal economy is made up of the things that matter most, including your career. and as those things change, fidelity can help you readjust your retirement plan, rethink how you are invested, and refocus as your career moves forward. wherever you are today, a fidelity ira has a wide range of investment choices that can fit your personal economy. fidelity investments, turn here. >> music is a universal language. but when i was in an accident, i was worried the health care system spoke a language all its own. with united healthcare, i got help that fit my life. information on my phone, connection to doctors who get where i am from, and tools to estimate what my care may cost so i never miss a beat. >> we are more than 78,000 people looking out for more than 70 million americans.

that is health in numbers. united healthcare. >> "bbc world news" was presented by kcet los angeles.

captioning sponsored by macneil/lehrer productions >> ifill: defense secretary leon panetta warned today he may furlough the vast majority of the department's 800,000 civilian workers, if automatic spending cuts take effect. good evening, i'm gwen ifill. >> woodruff: and i'm judy woodruff. on the "newshour" tonight, we assess the sequestration threat and zero in on the defense cuts with deputy secretary ashton carter. >> ifill: then, we have a conversation with justice sonia sotomayor-- the first hispanic

member of the supreme court about her life before and on the bench. >> sort of fine walking that we're always doing between when are we listening with an open mind and when has our mind been closed because of a bias? >> woodruff: plus, we have two medical research stories. first, our week long focus on guns. "after newtown" continues, with a report from miles o'brien on what science can tell us about the minds of rampage killers. andy williams called me collect inside the prisop. >> i didn't think 13 people were going to get shot. i just thought i'd make a lot of noise and the cops would show up. >> ifill: francis collins, head of the national institutes of health, walks us through president obama's call for a ten-year initiative to map the human brain.